Suction cleaner



A118- 14, 1934 v H. G. FAIRFAX4 n 1597293 SUCTION CLEANER Filed Jan. 5,.1931 2 sheetsfsheelt 1 Aug. 14, 1934. H. ca FAIRFAX 1,970,293

y SUCTION CLEANER V l Filed Jan. 5. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented` Aug.14,' 1934 v PATENT ori-ics sUc'rIoN CLEANER -Howard G, Fairfax, NorthCanton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio,

' a corporation of 0hio Application January 5, 1931, Serial No. 506,698

13 Claims. (Cl. 15-10) The present invention relates to suction cleanersin general and 'particularly to an improved adjusting mechanism for anon-rotating. sweeping brush.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novelbrush adjusting mechanism in a suction cleaner. It isa `further objectto provide an adjusting mechanism for a vstationary or non-rotatingbrush which may be operl0. ated with ease by the foot of the operator.Still another object of the present invention is the provision, in asuction cleaner, of an adjusting mechanism by which the stationaryscraping brush .may4 be positioned in either the working l5 or thestorage position and secured therein against accidental displacement. Astill further object comprises the provision of a stationary brushadjusting mechanism which is characterized by its ease `of operation,its simplicity of construction and its durability.

In the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention-is disclosed:

Fig. 1 discloses a side view of a suction cleaner,

partly in section upon the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, with the presentinvention embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a section upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view looking in the direction of the arrows on theline 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a detail showing the brush and itsoperating mechanism with the brush in the storage position;

Fig.,5 is a fragmentary view disclosing a modified embodiment of .l thepresent invention;

Fig.,6 is a partial view of a. suction cleaner embodying a still furthermodification;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of still another modication of the presentinvention;

Referring now to thedrawings, and Figures'l to 4 in particular, a modernsuction cleaner is' disclosed which comprises a motor casing land anozzle casting 2 which includes both the nozzle 3 and a Ian chamber 4.The cleaner is movably mounted by means of front supporting wheels 5, 5and a rear supporting wheel 6 while a pivoted handle 7, connected to themotor casing 1, is -pro vided by which 4the operator may easily propelthe-mach'ine.` Resilient handle-position-retainv ing means are indicatedgenerally by the reference-character 8 which cooperate with an arcuatemember 9 carried by the handle -7. A dust bag 10 is connected in asuitable manner to the fan chamber 4 and receives therefrom thedirt-laden air which has been drawn through the nozzle 3 by the actionof the fan, which is not shown in justing member 15. The aforedescribedparts of the .present drawings, and which hasbeen exhausted from the fanchamber.

Connecting the sides of the Ian chamber 4 to y the rear of the nozzleproper 3 for the purpose oi improving the appearance of the machine arei skirts or depending walls 11, 11 which are formed integrally with thenozzle 'casting 2. The frontwheei-supporting axle 12 is pivoted on thesetwo skirts on pins 13, 13iwhch are connected to the vaxle by rocker arms14, 14. The use of the pivotal i mounting of the iront supporting wheelspermits of their vertical adjustment relative to the nozzle for thepurpose of raising and lowering said nozzle relative to the supportingcovering. The adjustment in the present instance,4 is accomplished bymeans of a manually rotatable screw member l5l which extendsthruraninternally threaded shoulder 16 and contacts an inwardlyextending arm 17 carried by a rocker arm 14. The rotation of the member15 by the operator, thru 75 the use of the knurled extremity 18, servest0 advance or retract the member 15 thruthe internally threaded member16 resulting in the pivoting of the rocker arm 14 which carries one endof the shaft 12. A spring 19 of the coil type surrounds the axle 12adjacent the opposite rocker arm 14 with one of its ends overlying vsaidrocker arm while the other end extends adjacent the rear wall of thenozzle 3, said spring functioning to maintain the wheel-carrying shaft12 inthe uppermost position permitted by the contact of. the arm 17against the protruding end of the adl the suction cleaner together withthe height-indicating arm 20 which is carried by one of the rocker arms14, comprise no part of the present invention but provide the frameworkupon which the present invention is embodied.

Carried by the rear wall of the nozzle 3 by means of spaced arms 21, 21which extend downwardly and rearwardly from said rear wall, is atransversely extending brush-receiving member 22. Member 22 is pivotallymounted relative to the arms 21, 21 by means of spaced apertured lugs23, 23 etc., which enclose thelends oi.' the arms 2l, 21 and arerotatably mounted relative thereto by pins 24, 24. Seated within themember .22 is a br'ush 25 comprising a metallic back 26 which carriesbristle tufts 27, 27 etc., said back being withdrawable longitudinallyat either end of the member 22. A

Near one of its ends and outside of the skirt T 11 the brush-receivingmember 22 is provided with a rocker arm 28 which is pivoted, in a mannerSimile! to that oi the lugs 23, 23 etc., upon Vthe pin 24 carried by theend of the-adjacent arm 21. At the lower end of arm 28 is pivotallyconnected a lever member 29 which curves upwardly over the extendedwheel-carrying axle 12 and ends at the side of the fan chamber 4 in asuitable projecting contact member 30 which is preferably of resilientmaterial and having a smooth contour. Between its ends member 29 isprovided with a downwardly extending portion within which is positioneda slot 31 which slidingly encloses the pin 13 upon which the adjacentsupporting rocker arm 14 of the axle 12 is mounted. The relationshipbetween the lever 29 and pin 13 is such that the lever may assume eitherthe full line or the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, the latterbeing more clearly shown in ward relative to the cleaner.

Figure 4 in full lines.

A coil spring 32 is carried on an extension of the pin 24 on which therocker arm 28 is mounted and between that arm and` the adjacent lug 23.One end of the spring, indicated by the reference character 33, extendsdownwardly and beside the brush-receiving member 22 while the oppositeend 34 seats under a transverse projection 35 carried by the lever 29,the projection being suitably notched on its underside to prevent theaccidental displacement of the spring therefrom. With the scraping brush25 in the .working position, or that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 in fulllines, lit extends substantially vertically and slightly below the planeof the lower extremity, known as the mouth, of the nozzle 3. W ith thebrush so positioned the lever 29 is in its uppermost position, beingretained there by the action of coil spring 32 which, through itscontact with the projecting lug 35, urges the lever upwardly, themovement being limited by the pin 13 in the slot 31 of the lever. Theend 33 of the spring contacting the member 22 exerts a force thereonwhich passes nearly thru the pivot point of the brush and member and soexerts but slight pivoting force.

If, upon changing from one type of surface covering to another, theoperator desires to rely solely upon the use of cleaning air for the,removal of the foreign matter it becomes only necessary, in order toremove the brush 25 from its surfacecontacting position, to force thelever 29 downwardly, as by means of a downward force exerted by the footupon the contact member 30. As the lever is forced downwardly the pin 13slides upwardly in the slot 31 which, because of its inclination servesto advance or move the lever for- The forward lend of the lever 29, orthat pivoted to the extremity of the arm 28, is thus moved to a positionslightly in advance to the pivot point of the -brush 25 and member 22namely, the pins 24, 24. With the lever 29 in this position, as isclearly shown in Figure 4, the lifting force exerted by the coil spring32 serves to lift the lever 29 upwardly, as before, but inasmuch as theforward end thereof is on the same side of the pivot point, comprisingthe pin 24, as is the brush 25, any upwardmovement of the forward endrof the lever serves only to further move the brush 25 away from itsformer and lower position. 'Ihe upper, or storage position, of the brushbeing reached the brush-carrying member 22 contacts the underside of thearms 2121 extending rearwardly and downwardly from the rear ofthe nozzlewall and so limits further movement.

The operation to again position the brush in the working position is thereverse of that just described requiring only that the operator exert isfree to move upwardly under theforce of the a slight upward pull, as bymeans of the toe of the shoe, under the contact member 30 which beingmade of resilient and rounded material causes no injury thereto. Uponthe upward movement of the rear end of the member 29 the member ispulled to the rear as the pin 13 slides in the slot 31 and the forwardend of the lever pivots the arm 28 to the rear so the pivotal connectiontherebetween is again inthe rear ofthe pivot axis of the brush 25 atwhich time the spring 22 again urges the brush 25 into its workingposition and the lever 29 upwardly and rearwardly.

Referring now to Figure 5 in particular, a modifled embodiment of thepresent invention is disclosed which comprises a brush 50 including ametallic back 51, removably carried in a seat member 52, and individualbristle tufts 53. Member 52 is pivoted immediately at the rear of thenozzle 3`by means of a transversely extending pin 54 which is suitablyattached to the rear wall of said nozzle as by means of plate 55'. Thepivotedv seat member 52 is provided with a downwardly and rearwardlyextending arm 56 to which is pivotally connected an adjusting lever 57provided at its opposite end with a contact member 58. Lever 57 isprovided near its center with a slot 59 which extends rearwardly andupwardly and which is provided at its rear end with an offset seat 6 0.Within the slot 59, as in the previous modification, isA a pin memberwhich, in the present instance, is indicated by the reference character61 and which is carried by the adjacent skirt l1 of the nozzle 10 forthe sole purpose of limiting the movement of the lever. In the presentmodication a coil spring' 62 encloses the extended pin 63 by which thearm 56 and the lever 57 are pivot'- ally connected and with its forwardend contacts the said arm 56 while its rearward end extends thru asuitable opening 64 in lever 57 in a manner which permits of a relativesliding movement.

lock the lever in place thru holding the pin 61 in 1 20 the seat 60 ofthe slot 59. Upon its becoming desirable to use the machine as astraight-air cleaner it is only necessary to urgeV the lever 57 upwardlyand rearwardly to the dotted position shown in Figure 5. The upwardmovement serves to disengage the pin 61 from the seat 6 0 and permits itto slide in the slot 59 to the forward end thereof at which point thelifting action of the coil spring 62 at the lever's end urges the end ofthe slot into contact with the pin and prevents further movement.

' In Figure 6 a slightly modified embodiment of the invention asdisclosed in Figure 5 is shown. According to the4 present embodiment theactuating lever 57 extendssubstantially vertical. The operation of thecoil spring 62, in the present embodiment, is the same as in themodincation shown in Figure 5 as it tends at all times to uncoil andraise the pivot pin 63 about which it is coiled. With the brush in theoperating position the upward movement of the lever 57 is prevented thruthe pin 61 being located within an offset seat 60 of the slot 59 butupon the operator urging the contact member 53 slightly forward thelever 57 spring, said movement being limited when the lower end of theslot 59 contacts the pin 61. The brush 50 is then pivoted to the storageposition shown'in dotted lines in the figure.

In the modification disclosed in Figure- 7, which 150 `means exertingaovopos is also similar to that shown to Figure 5, the actuating lever57 extends under the wheel-supporting axle 12 instead of thereover, asin the previous embodiments, and is provided with a finger-grippingportion instead of the foot-contacting member. comprises merely adepressed seat formed in the lever 57 which is indicated by thereference character 57a and which is adapted to be grasped by .theoperator with his thumb and foreflnger. According to the presentmodification slot 59 is provided at each end with an offset seat 60,that at the forward end of the slot being solely for the purpose ofincreased rigidity and elimination of any possible slipping. Theoperation of the lever and brush according to the present modificationis exactly similar to that shown in Figures 5 and v6.

1. In a suction cleaner, a body, a non-rotatable surface-contactingbrush, means pivotally supporting said brush about a horizontal axis onsaid body, a rigid actuating arm pivotally connected directly to saidbrush-supporting means about an axis parallel to the'first-mentionedaxis, means slidably mounting said arm relative to said body toaccommodate its movement upon the pivoting of said brush-supportingmeans, means limiting the movement of said arm, and spring means betweensaid brush-supporting means and said actuating arm resistingly holdingsaid arm in its end positions.

2. In a suction cleaner, contacting brush, means supporting said brushrelative to said body for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, anactuating arm pivotally kconnected to said supporting means at a pointbelow the pivotal axis first-mentioned and which moves across a verticalplane including said horizontal axis upon the pivoting of said brushbetween its end positions, said actuating arm being slidablesubstantially vertically relative to said body between set limits toadjust said brush, a'lifting force on said arm and so on the pivot pointof said arm and supporting means to urge said brush to its extremepositions, and means to limit themovement of said brush. A l

3. In a suction cleaner, a body, /a surfacecontac'ting brush, meanspivotally supporting said brush abouta horizontal axis on said body, anactuating arm pivoted about a horizontal axis to said supporting meansbelow the pivotal axis thereof and slidable relative to said body, meansexerting a lifting force on the pivotal axis of said arm and saidsupporting means, means to move the pivotal axis of said` arm andsupporting means to opposite sides of a vertical plane through thepivotal axis of said supporting means as said arm is moved between itsextreme positions, and means to limit the pivotal movement of saidbrush-supporting means.

4. In a suction cleaner, a body, a surfacecontacting brush, meanspivotally supporting said brush on said body about a horizontal axis, anactuating arm pivoted to said supporting means about an axis parallel tothe mst-mentioned axis and therebelow, slot, a ,pin carried by said bodylpositioned in said slot slidably mounting said arm relative to saidbody, and spring means connected to the pivoted end of said arm tendingto lift said end, said slot being shaped so as to move the pivoted endof said arm The finger-gripping portion a body, a surface-.

said arm having a' transversely asv respects the pivotal axis of saidbrush-'supporting means upon the application of a vertical force to saidarm.

5. In a suction cleaner, a body, a surfacecontacting brush, meanspivotally supporting said brush on said body about a horizontal axis, anactuating lever pivotally connected to saidA supporting means so as tobe capable of exerting a pivoting force thereon, means preventingmovement of said lever independently of said brushsupporting means,resilient means exerting a force on said lever to move it relative tosaid body to pivot said supporting means, and means to limit the extentof lever movement.

6. In a suction cleaner, a body, a surfacecontacting brush, meanspivotally supporting said brush on said body about a horizontal axis, anactuating lever slidably carried by saidbody,

' means pivotally connecting said lever to said supporting means aboutan axis parallel to the first-mentioned axis, a spring contacting saidpivotal connecting means and said lever and exerting a moving forcethereon, and means limiting the lever movement and so the movement ofsaid pivotal connection, said supporting means and said brush.

'1. In a suction cleaner, a body, a surfacecontacting brush, meanspivotally supporting said brush on said body about a horizontal axis, anactuating lever, means pivotally connecting said lever about a parallelaxis to that first-mentioned to said supporting means, means preventingthe movement of said lever independently of said brush-supporting means,a coil spring carried by said pivotal connecting means and contactingsaid supporting means and said lever and exert-4 ing a force to pivotsaidlever and supporting means, and means to retain said lever in spacedpositions against the action of said spring to determine the brushposition.

8. In a suction cleaner, a body, a surface-contacting brush, meanspivotally supporting said brush on said body about a horizontal axis, anactuating lever connected to said supporting means and having a slotwith seats, means pivotally connecting said lever to saidbrush-supporting means, a pin on said body extended in said slot andslidingly supporting said lever, a spring carried by said pivotalconnecting means exerting a force to pivot said brush and its supportingmeans, said brush and supporting means being4 secured in various angularpositions against the force exerted by said spring by said pin and slotrelationship.`

9. In a suction cleaner, a body, a surface-contasting element, meanssupporting said element 130 upon a horizontal axis for angular movementrelative' to said body, an actuating arm pivotally means on said bodyand on said arm. at a point spaced from said supporting means adapted todirect said arm toward said supporting means upon the reception by saidarm of a force whose direction is substantially at right angles to thesaid direction of movement of said arm, and means to lock saidsupporting means in certain positions. i

10. In a suction cleaner, a body, a brushing element, means supportingsaid element for angular movement about an axis relative to said body,an actuating arm extending from said supporting means and pivotallyconnected thereto about an axis spaced from said mst-mentioned axis andarranged so that said means may be pivoted'by a force on vsaid arm,cooperating guide means on said body and on said arm adapted to directsaid arm toward said supporting means upon the reception by said arm ofa force transverse to the said resulting dir ection of movement, andmeans exerting a force at all times tending to pivot said arm about thesaid guide means.

11. In a suction cleaner, a body, a surfacecontacting element, meanssupporting said element i'or pivotal movement about an axis on saidbody,'an actuating arm for said supporting means pivotally connectedthereto, cooperating guide means on said arm and on said body adapted toadvance or retract said arm relative to said supporting means to pivotsaid means, depending on the direction of the force applied, between twolimits in one of which a circle having the guide means as a center andthedistance from the guide means to the vconnecting point of the arm andthe supporting means as a radius does not include the pivotal axis ofsaid supporting means and in the other of which said axis lies on or insaid circle, and ,means tending to pivot said arm about said guidemeans. 12. In a suction cleaner, a body, a surface-contacting brush,means pivotally. supporting said' brush about a horizontal axis on saidbody, an adJustable actuating arm pivotally connected to said supportingmeans about a horizontal axis, cooperating means on said arm and bodymounting said arm for sliding and pivotal movement upon said body, andmeans exerting a force tending to -pivot said arm upon said body andmove the pivotal axis of said arm and supporting means toward or acrossan imaginary line thru the pivotal axis of said supporting means and thepivotal axis of said arm on said body,

the extent of the sliding movement of said arm relative to said bodybeing such that the distance between its two pivotal points may begreater -or less than the distance from the axis of said supportingmeans to the pivotal axis of said arm on said body, thereby making itpossible for the force-exerting means to urge theIbruslfi-supportingmeans in either a clockwise or counter-clockwisedirection 'depending upon the position of said arm relative to said bodyand sov hold it in either of two positions.

13. In a suction cleaner, a body, a non-rotatable surface-contactingbrush, means pivotally supporting said brush for movement about ahorizontal axis, an actuating arm pivotally secured relative to'saidbrush about an axis parallel to said rst-mentioned axis, means slidablymounting said arm relative to said body for movement within a deniterange to pivot said brush-supporting means to move said brush fromoperative to inoperative positions, and vice versa, and resilien-t meansexerting a sliding force on said arm.

HOWARD G. FAIRFAX.

